

  (https://intercom.help/kognity)  DD
Overview
5. Calculus / 5.1 Introduction to differentiation
(/study/ap
2025-
mathema
applicatio Concept of a limit
and-
interpreta

sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o
Let's begin to explore the concept of a limit by looking at an example.

 Example 1
Table of
contents ★☆☆

Notebook Consider the sequence of numbers,

Glossary 6n − 4
an = for n = 1, 2, 3, … .
3n + 2

Reading
assistance
Find a 1, a2 , a3 , a4 , a10 and a 100 .

Without calculating the exact value, give an estimate of a 1000 .

6×1−4 2
a1 = = = 0.4
3×1+2 5

6×2−4 8
a2 = = = 1
3×2+2 8

6×3−4 14
a3 = = ≈ 1.27
3×3+2 11

6×4−4 20
a4 = = ≈ 1.43
3×4+2 14

6 × 10 − 4 56
a10 = = = 1.75
3 × 10 + 2 32

6 × 100 − 4 596
a100 = = ≈ 1.97
3 × 100 + 2 302

Since 1000 is large compared with 4 and 2,

6 × 1000 − 4 6 × 1000
a1000 = ≈ = 2.
3 × 1000 + 2 3 × 1000

 Activity
Use the following applet to investigate the behaviour of a similar
sequences of numbers.
 an + b
 Based on your investigation, find an approximation for
(https://intercom.help/kognity) if n is
 cn + d
Overview
(/study/ap large and c ≠ 0. Express this approximation in terms of a, b, c and d.
2025-
mathema
applicatio
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o

an + b a
For large values of n, ≈ .
cn + d c

Did you find this formula? Can you explain how you obtained it?

 Important
The number A is called the limit of the sequence {a n } if an is close
to A for large values of n.

Example 2
★☆☆

3n − 2
Consider the sequence defined by a n = .
2n + 4

Write down the limit of this sequence.

3n − 2 3
For large values of n, ≈ = 1.5, so the limit of this
2n + 4 2

sequence is 1.5.

Similarly to sequences, you can talk about limits of functions.

 Important
 
The number A is called the limit (at infinity) of the function f if f (x)
(https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
is close to A for large values of x. 
(/study/ap
2025- Note that this is closely related to the concept of a horizontal
mathema asymptote . If A is the limit (at infinity) of f , then the line y = A is a
applicatio
horizontal asymptote of the graph of y = f (x).
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid- Example 3
261340/o
★★☆

The population of the United States in 1800, 1850 and 1900 was 5.3, 23.1 and
76 million people respectively. This population growth can be modelled by

189.4
P (t) = ,
−0.031476t
1 + 34.74e

where t is the time in years after 1800.

The diagram below illustrates this growth.

Find the limit of this function as t increases without bound and interpret what
this limit means.

For large values of t

e
−0.031476t
is close to 0,
so 1 + 34.74e −0.031476t
is close to 1,
189.4
so −0.031476t
is close to 189.4.
1 + 34.74e

Hence, the limit of P (at infinity) is 189.4.

This means, that this model predicts a population increase in the US that
approaches, but does not go beyond 189.4 million people.

The diagram below shows the horizontal asymptote to the graph of P .

 
 (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
(/study/ap
2025-
mathema
applicatio
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o

Example 4
★★☆

The table below contains information on the temperature of a cup of tea.

Time (minutes) 0 5 10 15 20

Temperature (°C) 69 54 43 36 31

The cooling can be approximately modelled by the function

−0.0744t
T (t) = 19.8 + 49.2e ,

where T (t) is the temperature in degrees Celsius t minutes after the

measurement is started.

The diagram below illustrates this function and the data points.

Find the limit of this function as t increases without bound and interpret what
this limit means.

For large values of t

e
−0.0744t
is close to 0,
  so 19.8 + 49.2e −0.0744t
is close to(https://intercom.help/kognity)
19.8.

Overview
(/study/ap
2025- Hence, the limit of T (at infinity) is 19.8.
mathema
applicatio
and- So, this model predicts that the temperature of the cup of tea is
interpreta
sl- decreasing to 19.8 °C.
c/sid-
122-
cid- What do you think this tells you about the temperature of the room?
261340/o

The diagram below shows the horizontal asymptote to the graph of T.

So far you have only looked at limits at infinity. You will now turn your
attention to a different kind of limit, which will become important as the
subtopic progresses.

 Activity
2
x + x − 6
Consider the functions defined by f (x) = and
x − 2

g(x) = x + 3.

Find f (n) and g(n) where n is an integer. What do you notice?

Use your calculator to sketch the graph of both functions for
−4 ≤ x ≤ 5.

What do you notice? Did the calculator draw the correct graph?

The two diagrams below show part of the graphs of the functions from the
activity above.
  The difference between the two graphs is not(https://intercom.help/kognity)
big, but important.

Overview
(/study/ap
2025- For x = 2, f (2) is undefined, because you have 2 − 2 = 0 in the
mathema
applicatio
denominator. This is indicated by the empty circle on the graph of f at
and- the point with x -coordinate 2. At the same time, g(x) is defined
interpreta
sl- everywhere, no empty circle on the graph.
c/sid- For x ≠ 2,
122-
cid- x
2
+ x − 6
(x + 3) (x − 2)

261340/o f (x) = = = x + 3 = g(x),

x − 2 x − 2

so for x ≠ 2 the two graphs match.

Since g(2) = 5, the comparison of the two graphs tell us that the empty circle
on the graph of f is at (2, 5). Even though f is not defined at x = 2, you can
still see that if x is close to 2, then f (x) is close to 5. The mathematical way
of expressing this relationship is saying that the limit of the function f at
x = 2 is 5.

 Important
The number A is called the limit of the function f at x = a if f (x) is
close to A when x is close to a.

Note that the function does not have to be defined at x = a in order

to have a limit. If the function happens to be defined at x = a and the
limit is the same as f (a), we say that the function is continuous at
x = a.

Example 5
★★☆

Consider the function defined by

4 3 2
x + x − 7x − x + 6
f (x) = .
2
x + 2x − 3

Find the limit of f at x = 1.

Note that since 1 2

+ 2 × 1 − 3 = 0, f (1) is undefined, so we cannot
find the limit as the quotient of the numerator and the denominator at
x = 1.

Method 1
You can use the calculator to find this limit in several ways.

You can, for example, find f (1.1) = −1.89,

f (1.01) = −1.9899, f (1.001) = −1.998999 , etc. and make a
  conjecture. It looks like that these values are getting closer and
 (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview closer to −2, so the limit is −2.
(/study/ap
2025- You can also sketch the graph with a graphic display calculator
mathema
applicatio
tracing the graph close to the point where x = 1. Investigating the
and- y -coordinates of the points on the graph close to x =1 will give you
interpreta
sl- the same limit.
c/sid-
122-
cid- Method 2
261340/o
You can search for the factor form of the numerator and the
denominator. This is not easy, but if you happen to notice that

4 3 2
x +x − 7x − x + 6 = (x − 1)(x + 1)(x − 2)(x + 3)

and

2
x + 2x − 3 = (x − 1)(x + 3),

then, after cancellation, you get that for x ≠ 1 and x ≠ −3

f (x) = (x + 1)(x − 2).

So the limit is (1 + 1)(1 − 2) = −2.

The diagram below shows the relevant part of the graph of f .

Complete section with 3 questions

Start questions

 Previous(/study/app/grad-2025-mathematics-applications-and-interpretation-sl-c/sid-122-cid-261340/book/the-big-picture-id-26270) Next (/stud